That's Depressing

Life has been hard the past week or so. Hard but good. I feel God is working-in my life and in my loved one's lives. Refining is not a fun process. Knowledge may be power and powerful, but it isn't necessarily pleasant.

I am thankful for each one of you who has prayed for me and mine this week. I am thankful for each one who left a comment or made a phone call. I feel very loved and cared for.

Please continue to pray.

When life is rough it's time to haul out the comfort food. Food like meatloaf.

I just want to go on record saying that I am NOT a meatloaf lover. I am a meatloaf avoider. I can never understand the people who order meat loaf at a restaurant. What a waste of eating out!

Never a fan until...

I came across this recipe about a month ago as I was doing research for She Plans Dinner. This meatloaf recipe revolutionized my ideas of meat loaf. It is simple and amazing! Amazing! It is so easy that even my 6 year old has made it. All that I did was chop the onion for her.

My family oohs and aahs over it. They are totally excited when I mention it is on the menu for dinner.  I don't know why it is named Depression Meatloaf. There is nothing depressing about it!

Maybe because it is good food for when you are suffering a bout of depression...=)

Depression Meatloaf
Prep time: 20 minutes, Cook time: 1 hour, Total time: 1-1/4 hours
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
5 slices bread
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
3 slices bacon

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-In a large bowl, pour milk over bread. Let stand until milk in absorbed.
-Peel and chop onion.
-Add onion, salt and pepper to the bread and stir with a fork until the bread softens and is light and fluffy. Mix in ground beef.
-Place meat mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan. Top with bacon strips-halved length-wise and criss-crossed over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

This pairs very nicely with Cornbread Pudding. Get your meatloaf in the oven, and then make the pudding. It is light and fluffy and slightly sweet. A perfect compliment to the meatloaf.

Cornbread Pudding

Prep time: 10 minutes, Cook time: 45 minutes, Total time: 55 minutes

2 eggs
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 (15-1/4 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained 
1 (14-3/4 oz) can cream-style corn
1 stick butter, melted
1 (8-1/2 oz) pkg. corn bread/muffin mix
1/4 tsp paprika

-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-In a large bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. Stir in cornbread mix just until blended. Pour into a greased 3 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with paprika.
-Bake uncovered at 350 degrees 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Happy eating and have a wonderful weekend!